Brain Teamwork Slides Brain Teamwork
The 3 Players in Your Head
Select Your Players
The Reptile
The Limbic Centre
The Neocortex
Scientific Team Map
Neocortex
The Thinker
Limbic Centre
The Filter
Reptilian
The Safety
Part 1: Survival Mode
REPTILE
Breathing
Heartbeat
Reaction
No thinking. Just reacting.
Part 2: The Feeling Filter
SEE / HEAR
LIMBIC CENTRE
Is it scary? Fun? Boring?
EMOTION HUB
Part 3: The Neocortex
LOGIC
Speech
Planning
Team Connection
Thinking
Safety
Feeling
Whole team talks 1,000x a second!
Brain Team Challenge
Turn to a partner. Imagine you are
solving a hard maths puzzle.
The Puzzle:
"Which player is doing the heavy lifting? Which player is keeping us focused?"
Expert Hints:
Neocortex is calculating!
Limbic centre is feeling!
Brain Sort Scenarios
?
Touching a hot pan
?
Feeling joy at a party
?
Planning your chores
?
Hearing a fire alarm
?
Laughing at a joke
?
Reading a new story
Safety
Feeling
Thinking
Brain Team Trial Activity Brain Team Trial
Diagramming the Squad
Name:
Thinking Feeling Safety
The Brain Key
Reptilian: Safety Hub
Limbic Centre: Feeling Centre
Neocortex:
Thinking Hub
1. Brain Stamp Sort
Which player is leading? Draw the icon (Flame, Heart, or Lightbulb) in each square box.
Jumping at a loud noise.
Solving a maths puzzle.
Feeling joy for a party.
Planning your chores.
Feeling sad losing a toy.
Hand away from hot pan.
2. The Huddle Diagram
Scenario: Learning a new sport . What is the team saying?
Reptilian Says:
Limbic Centre Says:
Neocortex Says:
Team Sync Reflection:
Which part of the team was the hardest to "sync" during your last sport or activity?
Teamwork makes the dream work!
Facilitator Guide Resource Facilitator Guide
Brain Blueprint Sequence
Core Philosophy
"Teaching students to be the expert mechanics of their own unique engines. "
The Brain Squad
Reptilian: Safety & reflexes.
Limbic Centre: Emotions & filter.
Neocortex: Logic & planning.
Team Dynamics
If the Reptilian brain feels 'unsafe', the Neocortex shuts down. Check safety first.
Scientific Team Map
Thinking Feeling Safety
Lateral View Anatomy
Sequence Strategy
1. Brain Teamwork
Players: Reptile, Limbic Centre, Neocortex.
Understand the 'Huddle' and how safety affects logical thinking.
2. The Brain Engine
Topic: Interest-Based Nervous Systems.
Explain dopamine fuel and sensory calibration (volume knobs).
3. The Workshop Tools
Topic: Hardware Upgrades.
Use checklists, timers, and fidgets as essential maintenance tools.
4. Rebuilding Resilience
Topic: Neutralising Shame.
Reframing errors as data about tool failures, not personal flaws.
PRO FACILITATION TIPS
Validation
Say "That makes sense given your engine specs."
Be a Scientist
Treat all behaviours as neutral system data points.
Stay Curious
Engine Specs Slides Brain Engine Specs
Understanding Your Neuro-Operating System
System Overview
Most people's brains run on Standard OS. ADHD and AuDHD brains run on a Custom OS.
It's not "broken"—it's just configured differently.
It has high-performance parts in some areas.
It requires specialised fuel and maintenance.
User Access Required
Fuel Source: Dopamine
Standard Engine
Runs on Importance. They can do things because they are told they "should."
Stable fuel flow
Interest Engine
Runs on Interest, Novelty, Challenge, and Urgency.
High-octane / Occasional stalls
If the tank is empty, the car literally won't move.
The Command Centre
Neocortex
Working Memory
The Brakes
Switching Gears
In our brains, the Command Centre gets easily overwhelmed. It's like having 50 tabs open at once!
Signal Sensitivity
Your brain's "volume knob" for the world is turned up to 11.
Background noise = Static
Bright lights = Overheating
Fabric textures = System Errors
"Wait, you can hear the hum of the refrigerator too?"
Processing all this sensory data takes huge amounts of battery power.
Pro Maintenance
Externalise
Your working memory is short. Put it on paper, a list, or a timer.
Dopamine Hacks
Turn boring tasks into games. Set a 5-minute timer "sprint."
Sensor Shield
Headphones, fidgets, and breaks aren't "cheating"—they're engine coolant.
Goal: Master your own manual.
My Brain Manual Worksheet My Brain Manual
User Documentation & Troubleshooting
Name:
The Neocortex Hub
Your Neocortex is the expert mechanic of your brain engine. It handles logical thinking, planning, and focus.
"I am the expert on my own engine specs."
Neocortex
1. The Dopamine Tank
Check the activities below that give your brain an energy boost or help you start a task.
Solving a puzzle
Timer / Racing clock
Learning new things
Physical movement
Section 1 Labs
2. Sensor Calibration
CATEGORY: NOISE SENSITIVITY
Prefer Quiet Focus Prefer Background Noise
1
2
3
4
5
My Noise Tool Plan (e.g. Headphones):
CATEGORY: LIGHTING SENSITIVITY
Prefer Dim / Low Light Prefer Bright / Natural Light
1
2
3
4
5
My Lighting Tool Plan:
3. Troubleshooting
When my brain "stalls" and I can't start a task, it's usually because:
"I am the expert on my brain."
Toolbox Tech Slides The Toolbox
Upgrading Your Brain's Hardware
Tool #1: Externalise
Don't store it in your brain. Store it in the world.
Visual Checklists
Auditory Timers
Sticky Note Reminders
System Message:
Your brain is for thinking, not for storing lists.
Neocortex Support
Neocortex
Tools like Checklists and Timers are hardware upgrades for your Neocortex.
They save dopamine by reducing memory load!
Tool #2: Body Doubling
The Power of "With"
Having someone else in the room acts as an anchor for your focus.
Virtual coworking
Working at a library
Sibling reading nearby
Their presence keeps your "orbit" stable.
Tool #3: The Game Hack
BEAT THE CLOCK
Can I finish this maths page in 10 minutes? Ready... Set... GO!
QUEST LOG
Break a big task into 5 "Levels." Reward yourself after each level-up.
AVATAR GEAR
What specific "equipment" do I need for this task? (Fidgets, snacks)
"If it's fun, the brain will do it for free."
Tool #4: Sensory Shielding
Blocking out input saves battery life.
Noise-cancelling headphones
Dimmer lights or sunglasses
Texture-safe clothing
"The Fortress" (a quiet corner)
Workshop Discussion
Which tool in the box are you most excited to try first?
"I want to try body doubling with..."
"I'm going to externalise my..."
Strategy Scavenger Hunt Activity Strategy Scavenger Hunt
Field Testing Your Workshop Tools
Name:
Match the System Error with the correct tool number. Then, find local intel from a partner.
1. Tool Match-Up
The System Error
A. I have 10 steps and I'm stuck.
B. I keep forgetting homework.
C. Too loud to think.
The Tool Box
1 Externalise (Checklist)
2 Headphones (Sensory Shield)
3 Micro-Steps (Breakdown)
Testing Lab
2. Field Intel Interview
Partner Name:
"What is one 'brain hack' you use when you feel overwhelmed by a loud or busy place?"
"If you had to turn your most boring chore into a video game level, what would the rewards be?"
"Which workshop tool do you think is best for 'quieting' your brain engine?"
PERSONAL WORKSHOP UPGRADE
Which tool is most helpful for YOUR brain engine? How will you use it this week?
Power Up Slides Power Up
Building Neuro-Resilience
Deleting the Glitch
Society often uses these labels for our "System Errors":
LAZY CARELESS
These labels aren't facts. They are misunderstandings of your brain's engine.
"I am not a behaviour problem to be solved. I am a human being with a different brain."
Resilience Lab
Neocortex
Use your Neocortex to analyse errors as data points, not personal flaws.
"Mistakes are just tool test results."
Mistakes = Data
A "FAILURE" IS JUST THE RESULT OF AN EXPERIMENT.
If the tool didn't work today, that doesn't mean YOU failed. It means the experiment failed. What variable will you change next?
Your Turn: Reframe Race
The System Crash:
"I forgot my lunch again. I'm so disorganised and stupid."
Processing Reframe...
REFRAME IT
Identify Friction + Tool
System Reboot
Resilience is combining SELF-COMPASSION with OBJECTIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING.
Kindness
Tools
Data
Reframe Race Activity Sheet The Reframe Race
Reframing Internal System Errors
Name:
The Flip Challenge
Flip the Mean Label ! Switch from self-blame to Friction Point identification.
Neocortex
Pro Tip: Use your Neocortex to spot the 'Friction Point'.
Switch from 'emotional shame' to 'logical problem-solving'.
Internal Critic
"I'm so lazy. I've been sitting here for an hour and haven't written anything."
The Reframe
Friction Point:
"The task is too big. I need to break it into 5 'micro-steps'."
Internal Critic
"I'm a total disaster. I forgot about the test again today."
The Reframe
Internal Critic
"I'm too sensitive. Everyone else can handle this loud room but me."
The Reframe
SELF-COMPASSION MEMO
If your best friend was having a hard "brain day," what kind words would you say?